This game is an absolutely immersive, gorgeous movie that you get to play. Voice acting is unreal good, graphics are unbeatable and the look of the world is breathtaking. I love how the developer has made an open world RPG that you're not checking off boxes for the current side quest or mission you're currently on. There's no looking at boxes.
The fighting mechanism is incredible. I'm a big time stealth guy and don't typically play RPG's that don't have good stealth mechanics. You can play either way in this game and I usually choose to play, "with honor," or no stealth. But both ways are excellent and don't get old. The way the fighting happens with standoffs feels very real to the character and with the integration of haiku writing and quiet reflections in hot springs, I feel myself drawn to the beautiful way of life depicted in this game of the Asian culture. I also absolutely love playing this game with the Japanese language with English subtitles. The overall effect of feeling like you're playing a movie is unsurpassed as far as I'm concerned.
Also, the way the game guides you to your next place by the wind is just incredible and allows the game to really be immersive and keep you from constantly checking your map or having some unrealistic icon on your screen. I turn off the music and play with headphones and I just can't get enough of this game and I never want it to end. This, for me, will be the new gold standard as far as how I rate other open world RPG's.